Chinese Catholic journalist in exile: Chinese believers need help!

A journalist, whistleblower and political refugee from China criticized the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, for what the Chinese asylum seeker says is a contemptuous attitude towards today's persecution in China. Chinese journalist Dalù responded to an interview by Cardinal Parolin with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, conducted days before the Vatican renewed its agreement with China last month.

Dalù spoke to the Register on October 27, International Day of Religious Freedom. In the interview he highlighted the question of the Vatican journalist La Stampa to Cardinal Parolin about the continuing persecution of Christians in China, despite the Sino-Vatican agreement signed in 2018, to which the Vatican Secretary of State replied, “but persecutions, persecutions… You have to use the words correctly. "

The cardinal's words shocked Dalù, who received political refugee status in Italy in 2019 after his challenge to the Chinese Community Party, and made him conclude: “Cardinal Parolin's comments may make sense. The term "persecution" is not precise or strong enough to describe the current situation. Indeed, the CCP authorities have understood that the persecution of religions requires new and innovative methods to avoid a strong reaction from the outside world “.

Originally from Shanghai, Dalù was once one of the most popular journalists in Chinese media prior to his 1995 report on exposing the truth about the Tiananmen Square massacre to his radio listeners, despite the Chinese government's attempt to control the narrative about the event. Dalù converted to Catholicism in 2010, which he said increased the Chinese Communist Party's antagonism against him. Then, in 2012, after the arrest of Bishop Ma Daquin of the diocese of Shanghai, Dalù used social media to insistently ask for the bishop's release, ultimately leading to the interrogation and persecution of the journalist.

Dalù received the legal status of political refugee in Italy in 2019. The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

What is the situation of the Catholic Church in China?

You know, the Chinese Church is divided into the official one and the underground one. The official church is fully controlled by the Communist Party of China and must accept the leadership of the Patriotic Association, while the underground church is considered an illegal church by the CCP because its bishop is directly appointed by the Vatican. Isn't that ridiculous? The Church was founded by Jesus, not the CCP. Jesus gave Peter the key to the kingdom, not the Chinese Patriotic Association.

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Chinese journalist Dalù
Dalù Chinese journalist exiled (Photo: courtesy photo)

The Vatican has just renewed the agreement with China, the details of which have yet to be made public. What was your personal experience?

The priest who baptized me invited me to be the head of the Church's media department to spread the news and the gospel of the Church through social media. Since China blocked the internet, domestic believers cannot access the Vatican News website. Every day I relayed the news from the Holy See and the Pope's speeches. I was like a soldier on the front line.

I had the opportunity to meet many priests, including Father Ma Daqin, who later became bishop in Shanghai. On the day of his consecration as bishop, Bishop Ma renounced his association with the CCP's "Patriotic Church" and was immediately isolated from us by the Patriotic Association.

We later learned that he had been forced to participate in an intensive Communist indoctrination program. With a childish impulse, I have called for the release of our Bishop Ma Daqin on social media every day. My behavior received a strong response from believers, but it also attracted the attention of the Patriotic Association. They asked the internal security police to threaten me and my family. I went through harsh interrogations because I violated the CCP's propaganda discipline. They forced me to stop demanding Bishop Ma's release on social media and sign a confession in which I admitted my actions were wrong and I regretted it.

This was just a small episode. I lived with the awareness of being constantly monitored for my closeness to the Church and threats to me and my family were very frequent. The interrogations were very hard and my mind worked a lot to remove those memories.

On the morning of June 29, 2019, about nine hours after I had just published the details of Cardinal Parolin's "Holy See's Pastoral Guide on the Civil Registration of Chinese Clergy" on the Chinese app, "WeChat" platform, I suddenly received a call from Shanghai religious office. They ordered me to immediately delete the Holy See's “Pastoral Guide” document from the WeChat platform, otherwise they will act against me.

The tone of the man on the phone was very strong and menacing. This “Pastoral Guide” document is the first document issued by the Holy See to the official Chinese church after signing a secret agreement with China. It was because of these actions that I had to leave my country.

Dalù, your career as a popular radio host in Shanghai was cut short by the regime a long time ago. Because?

Yes, before now my journalistic career already violated the CCP propaganda discipline. June 4, 1995 was the sixth anniversary of the "Tiananmen Square Massacre". I was a well-known radio host and made that event public. Those innocent young people who demanded democracy in the great square of Beijing were massacred by the tracks of the tanks and I could not forget it. I had to tell the truth to my people who knew nothing about this tragedy. My live broadcast was monitored by the CCP propaganda agency. My show was stopped immediately. My press card was confiscated. I was forced to write a confession, admitting that my remarks and wrong actions violated party discipline. I was fired on the spot and from that moment on I started living a marginalized life for 25 years.

Chinese journalist Dalù
Dalù Chinese journalist exiled (Photo: courtesy photo)
My life was spared because China could not afford to make such a popular Sunday broadcaster disappear in Shanghai. They were thinking of joining the World Trade Organization and they had to look like a normal country. My notoriety saved my life but the CCP marginalized me forever. The political stigma is recorded in my personal file. Nobody dares to hire me because I have become a threat to the CCP.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin was interviewed by Salvatore Cernuzio de La Stampa, in which he spoke about his brokerage work on the renewed agreement with the CCP. He was asked, among other questions, about the increase in religious persecution in the country, after the initial agreement in 2018. Did you read his answers and did they surprise you?

Yes. I was surprised. However, I calmed down and thought about it. I think Cardinal Parolin's comments [which seem to reject the persecution in China] may make sense. The term "persecution" is not precise or strong enough to describe the current situation. In fact, the CCP authorities have understood that the persecution of religions requires new and innovative methods to avoid a strong reaction from the outside world.

For example, they have suspended the demolitions of the crosses and now the new order is to place the national flag on churches. The church holds the flag-raising ceremony every day, and even portraits of Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping are placed on either side of the altar cross. Surprisingly, many believers are not against this because they believe it is a symbol of the crucifixion scene of Jesus - two criminals were also nailed left and right.

It is worth mentioning that now the Patriotic Association no longer prohibits believers from reading the "Bible". Instead, they tampered with the "Bible" by inserting that Jesus had admitted that he too was a sinner. They are not against priests who preach the gospel, but they often organize them to travel or organize entertainment activities for them: eating, drinking and giving gifts. Over time, these priests will be happy to interact with the CCP.

Bishop Ma Daqin of Shanghai does not appear to be detained now. The CCP uses a new word for this: re-education. Let the bishop go to designated places for regular "training" and accept Xi Jinping's proposal: Chinese Catholicism should be run by the Chinese themselves, free from the chains of foreigners. When Bishop Ma Daqin received "re-education", some of the priests who had fought against his detention were often called to "drink tea" with the Chinese police. "Drinking tea" is a very cultural word that the CCP is now using as a euphemism for what will usually be harsh and violent interrogations. This fear, this use of our ancient culture and these tactics are forms of torture. Obviously, the real "persecution" was hidden by elegant packaging. Just like the Chinese Constitution it also states that China has free speech, freedom of religious belief and freedom of demonstrations and assemblies. But it turns out after tearing the packaging, all these "freedoms" must be rigorously reviewed and checked. If we say that "Chinese-style democracy" is just another form of democracy, then I suppose you can rename "Chinese-style persecution" simply as a new civil act.

Based on these new revelations, can you still use the word "persecution"? Obviously it becomes inappropriate, as we are witnessing a structured institution of daily humiliation. What word could be used instead?

As a Chinese Catholic, do you have a message to Pope Francis and Cardinal Parolin?

Pope Francis has just written: “We are a global community, all in the same boat, where one person's problems are everyone's problems” (Fratelli Tutti, 32). China's problems are the world's problems. Saving China means saving the world. I am a normal believer, I am not qualified to speak with His Holiness and Cardinal Parolin. What I could express is summed up in one word: HELP!

What drew you to the Catholic Church in 2010, and what keeps you inside the Church as you witness what Cardinal Zen and others have protested as a profound betrayal, even a "murder" of the Church in China?

In 25 years of living on the fringes of society, I have thought that if China does not change, my life cannot be changed. Many Chinese who desire freedom and light, like me, do not face the end of their lives in huge concentration camps. The descendants of all Chinese will live in a darker and more cruel world than they are now. I never found a way out of the darkness until I met Jesus. His words made me feel “never thirsty” and fearless. I understand one truth: the only way out of the darkness is to burn yourself. Indeed, the Church is a melting pot, making believers who truly believe and practice the words of Jesus candles that illuminate the world.

I followed Cardinal Zen a long time ago, an old man who dared to burn himself. In fact, the Chinese underground church has been supported, assisted and contacted by bishop Zen from the beginning to today. He knows very well the past and present situation of the Chinese underground Church. For a long time he has firmly opposed the CCP's intervention in the missionary activities of the Church, and has repeatedly criticized China for lack of religious freedom on various occasions. He also appealed to supporters of the Tiananmen Square incident and the Hong Kong democratic movement. Therefore, I think he should have the right to speak, to be heard, to offer his experience to the Pope in a delicate moment. It is a precious contribution even for those who do not think like him.

You are a political refugee - how did this happen?

If it hadn't been for God to have Luca Antonietti appear, perhaps I would have been deported within three months. If it weren't for that, I'd probably be in a Chinese prison today.

Luca Antonietti is not only a well-known lawyer in Italy, but he is a devout Catholic. The next day, after arriving here, I went to church to attend mass. No Chinese have ever appeared in this small village before. Luca's friend told him this information and I met him shortly after, on an afternoon in September 2019. Coincidentally, Luca earned an MBA in Shanghai and knew the Chinese Church but his Mandarin is rather poor, so we could only communicate via mobile phone translation software.

Chinese journalist Dalù
Dalù Chinese journalist exiled (Photo: courtesy photo)
After learning of my experience, he decided to provide me with legal assistance. He put all his business aside and prepared all the legal documents necessary to apply for political asylum, working for me every day. At the same time he took some time to visit the Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza. What moved me in particular was that it also provided me with a place to live. I am now a member of the Italian family. My lawyer took the risk to his life and that of his family to help me. You must understand that being close to me, even in a country like Italy, is still a heavy cross to bear: I am under surveillance.

I was like a wounded man who fell by the side of the road and met a kind Samaritan. From that moment on, I started a new life. I enjoy the life that the Chinese should have the right to enjoy: fresh air, safe and healthy food and stars in the sky at night. More importantly, I have a treasure that the Chinese regime has forgotten: dignity.

Do you consider yourself a whistleblower? Why are you coming out now, and what message do you have?

I've always been an informant. In 1968, when I was 5, the Cultural Revolution broke out in China. I saw my father beaten on stage. There were several such demonstrations of struggle every week. I found that the new rally posters were always posted at the entrance to the venue. One day I tore up the poster and that day no one attended the demonstration.

In 1970, when I was in first grade, I was reported by my classmates and questioned by the school because I accidentally dropped a portrait from the book "Quotes by Mao Zedong" on the floor. When I was a middle school student, I started secretly listening to Taiwan's shortwave radio in violation of the national ban. In 1983, when I was in college, I called for teaching reform through campus broadcasting and was punished by the school. I was disqualified from producing additional transmissions and written for later inspection. On May 8, 1995, I mourned the death of Taiwan's most famous singer Teresa Teng on the radio and was punished by the radio station. A month later, on June 4th, I violated the ban again and reminded the audience not to forget the "Tiananmen massacre" on the radio.

On July 7, 2012, after Bishop Ma of the Diocese of Shanghai was arrested, I was tortured and interrogated by police every day when I asked for Bishop Ma's release on social media. In August 2018, before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, I organized human rights protection activities in the community where I lived. Taiwanese radio station “Voice of Hope” interviewed me. I was monitored by the police and taken back to the police station. Is not enough?

Now I'm writing a book. I want to tell the world the truth about China: China, under the CCP, has become a huge invisible concentration camp. The Chinese have been enslaved for 70 years.

What hope do you have for your future job in Europe for China? How can people help?

I would like to help free people understand how the Communist dictatorship thinks and how it is silently deceiving the whole world. The Communist Party of China knows the West perfectly. However, you don't know much about the dynamics of the Chinese regime. Also, I would like to return to the radio, as a radio host, to talk to the Chinese about Jesus. It is a great dream and I hope someone can help me publish my memoirs to look to the future with realism and hope.

This is the time of truth. I spread my point of view on China through social media every day. I hope the world wakes up soon. Many "people of good will" will respond to this call. I will never give up.